Showing posts with label wooden chariot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wooden chariot. Show all posts

9 December 2016

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 7. All Day—Maharadham


Today is the 7th day of the 2016 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival and probably the most popular day of all the ceremonial processions of the 10-day Deepam Festival. It is the day of the giant Maharadham—which will be hauled by  devotees all the way around the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

This day all the panchamoorthies participate in the procession, each in their own wooden chariot. The first two chariots are those of Lord Vinayaka and Lord Murugan (with both his wives). Both of the chariots have already completed the circumambulation of the perimeter streets and have returned to their permanent spots on Car Street.


Alangaram of Lord Vinayaka
Lord Vinayaka in his Wooden Chariot starting on His circumambulation of the Temple. He is the first of the five chariots.

Lord Vinayaka in His Chariot will be pulled around the whole perimeter of the Temple by devotees

The Chariot on the West Side of the Temple near the Pey Gopuram

Lord Vinayaka in his chariot being pulled around the Temple perimeter. He has now reached Big Street (North Side)

The second chariot on today's procession is that of Lord Murugan (with his two wives). Alangaram of Lord Murugan.

Lord Murugan in his Chariot starting off on His circumambulation. Being pulled by devotees. Gents on the right. Ladies on the left.

In the above photo, easy to see the two separate lines of devotees pulling the chariot

3 December 2014

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Seven—Full Day: Maharadham


Yesterday, Tuesday December 2, 2014, was the seventh day of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival and definitely one of the most popular. It was the day of the Maharadham, the massive wooden chariot that is pulled around the Mada Streets (four main perimeter streets surrounding the Arunachaleswarar Temple) by devotees. The men pull on the right side of the chariot and the women the left. 


One chariot each for the panchamoorthies

Lord Arunachaleswarar in His sanctum top of the Maharadham

Gents on right, ladies to the left pulling chariot on Thiruvoodal Street

Circumambulation of Temple by Maharadham takes around 12 hours

Devotees packed on roofs and every vantage point to take darshan

To propel Maharadham, lads jump on levers wedged under the back wheels